Desmond has vision of "Not Penny's Boat" after Charlie crashes car into marina

In the car, Desmond and Charlie hear Drive Shaft's hit song "You All Everybody" on the radio. Desmond is not impressed by the song. Charlie then gives Desmond the choice of either getting out of the car or to let Charlie show him what he's been talking out. Charlie then grabs the steering wheel forcing the car into the marina, the same one where Desmond and Penny docked their boat and where he was shot by Ben.

After the car is submerged in the water, Desmond frees himself but Charlie just sits in the passenger seat with his eyes closed. Desmond makes his way through the open window and surfaces, but only takes a few deep breaths before going back for Charlie.

Underwater, Desmond tries to open Charlie's door, but can't get it open. Charlie opens his eyes slowly, turns toward Desmond and places his palm on the glass. Suddenly, in flashes, Desmond sees Charlie from the season three finale "Through the Looking Glass," pressing his hand against the flooding com room of the Looking Glass Station that says "Not Penny's Boat."

After a moment, Desmond snaps to, opens the door and brings Charlie to the surface.

So it seems to have taken a life-altering experience in order to cause Desmond to have a clear vision of the original timeline, much like Charlie's almost dying on the plane which was similar to him being on the brink of death after Ethan hung him from a tree in season one. What does it all mean though?

Locke visits Helen's grave, Abbadon shot, Locke in car crash

Matthew Abbadon take Locke to cemetery in Santa Monica where his ex-girlfriend Helen Norwood is buried. Helen's tombstone says that she was born on June 30, 1957 and died on April 8, 2006. Abbadon tells Locke that she died of a brain aneurysm. Locke says that they (he and Helen) could have been together, and Abbadon says maybe they could have but she would still be dead. Abbadon continues saying "Helen is where she supposed to be. As sad as it is, her path led here and your path, no matter what you did or what you do, your path leads back to the island." Locke questions Abbadon saying "You say that like it's inevidable." Abbadon then metions that Richard Alpert told Locke that he was going to die and asks "Is that inevidable or is it a choice?" Locke says "Do you think I want to die? How is that, how could you possibly think that's a choice?" On that note, Abbadon avoids continuing by saying "Hey, I'm just a driver."

As Abbadon is putting Locke's wheelchair in the trunk of the car, he is shot numerous times by an unseen gunman that we later learn was Ben Linus. Locke climbs in the front seat, starts the car and hits the gas, leaving Abbadon dead on the cemetery road. In a panic, Locke drives wrecklessly out of the cemetery and through a red light and keeps looking back like someone is chasing him, even though it appears that no one is. Locke his first hit by a whie SUV before rolling further through the intersection where he is hit by a tan car. The scene ends with a shot through the broken glass of Locke's car and he is bleeding from his head.

Matthew Abbadon seems be familiar with the name Richard Alpert, so does he know him or at least who he is? Also, how does Abbadon where people's paths are destined to lead? This poses the question again, is he like Eloise Hawking?

Michael attempts suicide via car

An incredibly distraught Michael attempts to kill himself by driving a car into a storage container near a dock/harbor. He says "I'm sorry" as he accelerates into the container. Sorry for the news banner on the speedometer shot. There's nothing I could do about that.

When he gets in the car, a song by Mama Cass Elliot, "It's Getting Better," is playing on radio. In Desmond's flashes and in the hatch, he heard/played the song "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass. Coincidence? I think not.

News report about the car crash

Here are a few screens of the news report that Jack sees about the car crash while at the hospital.

Car crash woman and son

Here is the woman from the car crash that Jack caused. The second screen is the woman's son who Jack pulled out of the car first.